8 Songs That Will Get Your Butt Out Of Bed In The Morning

May. 11, 2012
I write and edit Thought Catalog. I'm a brat. Send me fun things at ryan@thoughtcatalog.com

1.”Another Day (Gotta Get Up)” by Jill Scott

This goes first because it’s a literal ode to getting your lazy bones out of bed. Jill Scott sings, “I – don’t want to – Go to work today – I ‘d rather – Stay home – And play video games- I wanna chill. But I gotta get up. I gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta gotta get up.” That’s basically the entire song—her yelling at you to get up and stop pressing “snooze” on your alarm clock. I played this song a lot when I was in college and had the terrible misfortune of having a class before noon, and it totally worked.

2. “Sympathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones may seem like a cliche choice but their music is just so perfect for giving you that kick in the ass you need in the morning. Listening to their music always makes me feel like I’m some very important character in a coming-of-age film. I walk with purpose and there are montages of me sashaying to various places. It belongs to one of my favorite sub-genres of music: “Perfect Songs To Strut To Like You’re In an Opening Scene of a Movie.”

3. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly CLarkson

In order for you to fully embrace the day, you need to take a shower. Trust me, I know it sounds like a lot of work, but once you get in there, you’ll feel like you’ve been fed an Adderall and drank some “Bring it, bitch!” juice. Listening to “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson and singing along to it in the shower will only enhance your energy by giving you the gift of The Perfect Pop Song. That killer beat combined with Kelly’s wail will have you fist pumping in the shower like a damn fool and totally amped to start your day.

4.”Perfect Day” by Hoku


If you feel like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, just blast this Hoku song (LOL) until you feel sufficiently brainwashed to experience optimism. It worked for Elle Woods in Legally Blonde so it can definitely work for you. (Also, was I the only who was obsessed with Hoku back in the day? #NotClearOn her career but obsessed with everything else!)

5.”What The Hell” by Avril Lavigne

This song puts a literal swing in my step. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked the streets of New York feeling like some powerhouse diva listening to this song on repeat with my headphones blasting. I used to be embarrassed about liking Avril’s music but now I’m thinking, “What the hell?”

6.”Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen

This song is so infectious, it melts even the coldest of hearts. (Read: Bloggers.) Are you in a fight with someone? Sit down in a room together and play this song. I bet that by the end of it, you will be jumping up and down holding hands and singing along. I’m curious about what makes this song so damn joyful. Is it just a really addictive melody or are we secretly being force-fed some terrifying propaganda?

7. “Queen Of The Night” by Whitney Houston

I had to include Whitney Houston on a playlist of uplifting morning jams. Have you ever tried picking out your outfit for the day while blasting this song? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A HOMOSEXUAL?

8.”Don’t Tell Me” by Madonna

Okay, now you have to take it down a notch before your brain explodes from a fun overdose before 9am. “Don’t Tell Me” by Madonna is the perfect marriage between upbeat and mellow. It will give you the confidence to finish getting dressed and leave for work without turning you into a jittery psycho. Plus, you can pretend you’re one of the cowboys in the music video and do a weird dance out the door. TC mark

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image – Kelly Clarkson

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1529580041 Orlando Garcia

    it makes me sad that “Better Som/Daughter” is not on this list. Come onnn dude  thats not a bad song.

  • Hannah

    Ryan you can be so lame sometimes.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1363230138 Michael Koh

    read No.1 as “Gotta Get It Up” 

    • Mila Jaroniec

      You would

  • Verbro

    All these songs suck HARD.

  • Nishant

    Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin.

  • Brea4u

    lmao, “gotta get IT up” …. yeah,  now thats something will get me up.

  • Jennapace11

    Whatever. Yeah these songs suck, but they fulfill the purpose of the article. Plus cracking up at the commentary woke me up pretty well. You’re great, Ryan.

  • http://www.facebook.com/josephbrillantes Joseph Brillantes

    we have the same taste in female artists :p 

  • Jaxx

    I like Ryan. He’s my favorite. I don’t like any of these songs, but the explanations were great. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A HOMOSEXUAL? No, but I’m going to find a way to work that sentence into a conversation today.

  • Raychel

    Perfect Day is now in some All-Inclusive Resort commercial, isn’t it?  Sandals? Beaches?

  • Jordan

    “I’ma Boss” by Meek Mill. 

  • DCDenise

    Manic Monday

  • Hwee

    Bro, my friend found the PERFECT wakeup song:

    Ricky Martin – Livin’ Da Vida Loca

    Trust me, blast this in the morning I can gurantee there is no way you’ll fall back to sleep afterwards >:)

  • Tom

    Ryan, bro, I love your articles. So much so, in fact, that it often makes me question my own heterosexuality by how much I can relate to your profound ridiculousness.

  • Chanel

    Have to say…I was into Hoku back in the day. 

  • http://www.about.me/tanyasalyers Tanya Salyers

    Hell yeah, Since U Been Gone!

  • Becky

    Sympathy for the Devil is my alarm clock tone.

  • Guestropod

    season of the witch
    and down in mexico

  • Brandon h

    I didn’t look to see who the author was and I got halfway down to Queen of the Night and thought “This is the gayest list ever, did Ryan write it?”

    Sure enough!

  • cheeseplatter

    Mine is Gloria Estefan’s “Conga.” Those funky latin rhythms, man.

  • CATHERINE

    HEY I JUST MET YOU
    AND THIS IS CRAZY
    BUT HERE’S MY NUMBER
    SO CALL ME, RYAN

  • Sussmuch

    Mine is non Je ne regrette rien by edith post. Gotta get out of bed to go back through the inception dream layers.

    • Sussmuch

      *piaf ugh autocorrect

  • Liv

    I was waiting to see Whitney on here! One of my best get-your-ass-out-of-bed songs is “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” I can’t listen to it and sit still, it’s infectious!

  • Provider

    Provider or Rockstar (N*E*R*D) not being mentioned on this list is an abomination. Those songs are the perfect mix of upbeat, melodious and motivational. 
    Also, any up tempo Beyonce is a necessary addition to such a list- HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A HOMOSEXUAL?

  • April

    I’m making a playlist. 

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